DHS’s Problematic Allusion to ‘Charlotte’s Web’: Names Matter

By Patrice Gopo

I first read E.B. White’s ‘Charlotte’s Web’ in the early years of elementary school. Up until then, I had been reticent to read despite my parents’ efforts. That night changed everything as I fell into the world of Wilbur, a pig, and Charlotte, a spider who could spell and was in the business of saving Wilbur’s life. The reader I became would eventually grow to encompass the writer I am. I thought of that memory last summer when, for a literary character costume party, I created grey spider legs and dressed in grey and wore a sign taped to cheesecloth that said, “Radiant.” I was sure my idea was original. It was not. Three other people also dressed as Charlotte.

In recent days, I have joined the ranks of countless people outraged at the Department of Homeland Security naming their new operation where I live in Charlotte, North Carolina after this classic children’s book—a book rooted in love and the innate belief in the dignity of another. “How awful,” I thought when I first heard the name of the operation. “How awful.”

Like so many others, I am aware of the fear rolling through many communities and people in my city. I have seen agents walking on a sidewalk. I have heard of children scared their parents won’t be there when they return home. While so many others are rightly expressing horror at what unfolds, today I am not writing to add to the excellent commentary that already exists.

Instead, as a writer, I am reflecting on the power of a name, the power of words. Writers often bring allusions into our work. Allusions are references to a person, place, thing, or idea widely known that can elicit emotion, serve as a shortcut to understanding, and help deepen meaning. Consider, for example, how mention of forbidden fruit connects to the Garden of Eden and serves as a reference to what may be off limits. In my own work, I’ve referred to the Chronicles of Narnia to help describe a walk that felt like I had passed from an ordinary world to an extraordinary world.

When so many people think about the book ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ a great warmth surrounds them. Perhaps they are like me and recall reading the book as a child. Or perhaps they think of time spent reading the book to a child. Maybe they think about Charlotte’s friendship with Wilbur and the actions she took that changed the course of his life.

I think with this DHS naming convention, those in positions of power want to somehow soften public reaction to this operation. Perhaps summon feelings of warmth and dismiss feelings of terror. Maybe they want to make us imagine that this operation is saving lives and is kind, compassionate, and steeped in care. This naming could be an effort to normalize what cannot and should not be normalized. Or maybe none of this is true and this naming was a misguided, unsuccessful attempt at being amusing and cute.

Whatever the reality of this naming process, an allusion exists that isn’t accurate. Make no mistake, the DHS operation that happens here in Charlotte (and other cities around the country) is not soft or gentle or life-giving. There is no warmth present. What happens in this city destroys families and destroys lives.

While the name of this operation is far from the most significant problem, still we must pay attention to the misappropriation of the title of a book. The use of this name for an operation promoting fear is a vast misalignment with the love that is present in Charlotte and Wilbur’s story. We must pay attention. For even such a seemingly small thing matters.

Patrice Gopo is the editor of the forthcoming essay anthology We Deserve to Heal: Black Women on the Perils & Promises of Friendship with White Women. Please visit patricegopo.com to learn more.